Johnny Paul Manziel was born on December 6, 1992, in Tyler, Texas. Raised in Kerrville, he displayed athletic talent from a young age, participating in multiple sports including baseball, basketball, football, and golf. However, it was in football that he stood out the most during his time at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas.

Under the coaching of Mark Smith, Manziel began his high school football career on the freshman team and eventually played as both a receiver and quarterback for the varsity squad. During his sophomore year, after starting the season at receiver, he became the starting quarterback by the fourth game and retained that position. He finished the year with 806 rushing yards, 1,164 passing yards, 408 receiving yards, and a total of 28 touchdowns.

In his junior season, Manziel excelled as the starting quarterback, recording 1,544 rushing yards, 3,903 passing yards, 152 receiving yards, and 55 total touchdowns. His performance earned him recognition as the San Antonio Express-News Offensive Player of the Year and District 27-4A Most Valuable Player.

During his senior year, Manziel completed 228 of 347 passes (65.7%) for 3,609 yards, recording 45 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He was named to the Associated Press Class 4A All-State first team and was honored as the District 28-4A MVP and Offensive Player of the Year by numerous outlets.

College Career at Texas A&M

Manziel earned an athletic scholarship to Texas A&M University, where he redshirted his first season in 2011. In 2012, he became the starting quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies under head coach Kevin Sumlin's Air Raid offense during the team's first season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

As a redshirt freshman, Manziel made national headlines by becoming the first freshman — and only the fifth player in NCAA Division I FBS history — to pass for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He set multiple SEC and NCAA records and led the Aggies to a successful season.

Manziel's performance earned him the 2012 Davey O'Brien Award for the nation's top quarterback and, most notably, the prestigious Heisman Trophy, becoming the first freshman ever to win the award. He capped off the season by leading Texas A&M to a victory over Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton Bowl Classic, further cementing his legacy in college football.